SEREMBAN: Water levels at two major dams here are going down despite heavy showers in many parts of Negri Sembilan.

Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said both the Sg Terip and Kelinchi dams, which supply water to tens of thousands of consumers in Seremban and other districts had about 70 days of supply left, when it should be more than double.

"For some strange reason, we have not been getting rain in the upstream areas.
"It is my hope that consumers will use water prudently and not be mistaken that the dams are full because of rain in downstream areas," he told reporters after chairing the exco meeting Wednesday.

Mohamad said consumers should not waste water simply because tariffs were low.

"I know that Negri Sembilan has the lowest water tariff in the country for households, but that does not mean one should be wasteful,"

However, he noted that the state's five other dams were full.

Mohamad said he had directed state water concessionaire Syarikat Air Negri Sembilan to find way to fill up the two affected dams.

"We need to do some kind of back pumping and fill up the dams as we will be experiencing the dry season in two to three months.

"The other option is to carry out cloud seeding in the upstream areas and get the dams filled up before it comes," he said.

N. Sembilan faces water crisis as two major dams dry up
BERNAMA New Straits Times 5 Jan 17;

SEREMBAN: Despite the rainy season, there's a looming water crisis in the state as water levels at the Sungai Terip and Sungai Kelinchi dams have dropped.

Negri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said the current water level at the two dams is expected to reach a critical stage in 72 days.

"The water level in dams is supposed to increase during the rainy season - but it's (been) just the opposite. I am a little worried, for during the rainy season, we should have a capacity sustaining for up to 200 days.

"Usually, (at) a critical level, water levels in the two dams would be able to last for more than 150 days, instead of 72 days, as what is happening now," he said after chairing an exco meeting here today. Mohamad said he has directed Syarikat Air Negri Sembilan (SAINS) to think of ways to increase water levels in the dams, including cloud seeding in certain areas.

However, he said the situation at five more dams, namely Talang, Pedas, Gemencheh, Ulu Sepri and Teriang, is not a concern, because water levels there are at the maximum level. - Bernama

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